hermann and dorothea-第12部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


t　cheek。　Thus　he　stood　there　Fixed　as　a　marble　statue；　the　force　of　will　keeping　him　steadfast；　Drew　her　not　to　him　more　closely；　but　braced　himself　under　her　pressure。　Thus　he　the　glorious　burden　felt；　the　warmth　of　her　bosom；　And　the　perfume　of　her　breath；　that　over　his　lips　was　exhaling；　Bore　with　the　heart　of　a　man　the　majestic　form　of　the　woman。

But　she　with　playfulness　said；　concealing　the　pain　that　she　suffered：　〃That　is　a　sign　of　misfortune；　so　timorous　persons　would　tell　us；　When　on　approaching　a　house　we　stumble　not　far　from　the　threshold；　And　for　myself；　I　confess；　I　could　wish　for　a　happier　omen。　Let　us　here　linger　awhile　that　thy　parents　may　not　have　to　blame　thee；　Seeing　a　limping　maid；　and　thou　seem　an　incompetent　landlord。〃



URANIA

PROSPECT

Muses；　O　ye　who　the　course　of　true　love　so　willingly　favor；　Ye　who　thus　far　on　his　way　the　excellent　youth　have　conducted；　Even　before　the　betrothal　have　pressed　to　his　bosom　the　maiden；　Further　your　aid　vouchsafe　this　charming　pair　in　uniting；　Straightway　dispersing　the　clouds　which　over　their　happiness　lower！　Yet　first　of　all　declare　what　is　passing　meanwhile　at　the　Lion。

Now　for　the　third　time　again　the　mother　impatient　had　entered　Where　were　assembled　the　men；　whom　anxious　but　now　she　had　quitted；　Spoke　of　the　gathering　storm；　and　the　moonlight's　rapid　obscuring；　Then　of　her　son's　late　tarrying　abroad　and　the　dangers　of　nightfall；　Sharply　upbraided　her　friends　that　without　having　speech　of　the　maiden；　And　without　urging　his　suit；　they　had　parted　from　Hermann　so　early。

〃Make　it　not　worse　than　it　is；〃　the　father　replied　with　displeasure。　〃For；　as　thou　seest；　we　tarry　ourselves　and　are　waiting　the　issue。〃

Calmly；　however；　from　where　he　was　sitting　the　neighbor　made　answer：　〃Never　in　hours　of　disquiet　like　this　do　I　fail　to　be　grateful　Unto　my　late；　blessed　father；　who　every　root　of　impatience　Tore　from　my　heart　when　a　child；　and　left　no　fibre　remaining；　So　that　I　learned　on　the　instant　to　wait　as　do　none　of　your　sages。〃

〃Tell　us；〃　the　pastor　returned；　〃what　legerdemain　he　made　use　of。〃　〃That　will　I　gladly　relate；　for　all　may　draw　from　it　a　lesson；〃　So　made　the　neighbor　reply。　〃When　a　boy　I　once　stood　of　a　Sunday　Full　of　impatience；　and　looking　with　eagerness　out　for　the　carriage　Which　was　to　carry　us　forth　to　the　spring　that　lies　under　the　lindens。　Still　the　coach　came　not。　I　ran；　like　a　weasel；　now　hither；　now　thither；　Up　stairs　and　down；　and　forward　and　back；　'twixt　the　door　and　the　window；　Even　my　fingers　itched　to　be　moving；　I　scratched　on　the　tables；　Went　about　pounding　and　stamping；　and　hardly　could　keep　me　from　weeping。　All　was　observed　by　the　calm…tempered　man；　but　at　last　when　my　folly　Came　to　be　carried　too　far；　by　the　arm　he　quietly　took　me；　Led　me　away　to　the　window；　and　spoke　in　this　serious　language：　'Seest　thou　yonder　the　carpenter's　shop　that　is　closed　for　the　Sunday？　He　will　re…open　to…morrow；　when　plane　and　saw　will　be　started；　And　will　keep　on　through　the　hours　of　labor　from　morning　till　evening。　But　consider　you　this；a　day　will　be　presently　coming　When　that　man　shall　himself　be　astir　and　all　of　his　workmens　Making　a　coffin　for　thee　to　be　quickly　and　skilfully　finished。　Then　that　house　of　boards　they　will　busily　bring　over　hither；　Which　must　at　last　receive　alike　the　impatient　and　patient；　And　which　is　destined　soon　with　close…pressing　roof　to　be　covered。'　Straightway　I　saw　the　whole　thing　in　my　mind　as　if　it　were　doing；　Saw　the　boards　fitting　together；　and　saw　the　black　color　preparing；　Sat　me　down　patiently　then；　and　in　quiet　awaited　the　carriage。　Now　when　others　I　see；　in　seasons　of　anxious　expectance；　Running　distracted　about；　I　cannot　but　think　of　the　coffin。〃

Smiling；　the　pastor　replied：　〃The　affecting　picture　of　death　stands　Not　as　a　dread　to　the　wise；　and　not　as　an　end　to　the　pious。　Those　it　presses　again　into　life；　and　teaches　to　use　it；　These　by　affliction　it　strengthens　in　hope　to　future　salvation。　Death　becomes　life　unto　both。　Thy　father　was　greatly　mistaken　When　to　a　sensitive　boy　he　death　in　death　thus　depicted。　Let　us　the　value　of　nobly　ripe　age；　point　out　to　the　young　man；　And　to　the　aged　the　youth；　that　in　the　eternal　progression　Both　may　rejoice；　and　life　may　in　life　thus　find　its　completion。''

But　the　door　was　now　opened；　and　showed　the　majestical　couple。　Filled　with　amaze　were　the　friends；　and　amazed　the　affectionate　parents；　Seeing　the　form　of　the　maid　so　well　matched　with　that　of　her　lover。　Yea；　the　door　seemed　too　low　to　allow　the　tall　figures　to　enter；　As　they　together　now　appeared　coming　over　the　threshold。

Hermann；　with　hurried　words；　presented　her　thus　to　his　parents：　〃Here　is　a　maiden；〃　he　said；　〃such　a　one　as　ye　wish　in　the　household。　Kindly　receive　her；　dear　father：　she　merits　it　well；　and　thou；　mother；　Question　her　straightway　on　all　that　belongs　to　a　housekeeper's　duty；　That　ye　may　see　how　well　she　deserves　to　ye　both　to　be　nearer。〃

Quickly　he　then　drew　aside　the　excellent　clergyman；　saying：　〃Help　me；　O　worthy　sir；　and　speedily　out　of　this　trouble；　Loosen；　I　pray　thee；　this　knot；　at　whose　untying　I　tremble。　Know　that　'tis　not　as　a　lover　that　I　have　brought　hither　the　maiden；　But　she　believes　that　as　servant　she　comes　to　the　house；　and　I　tremble　Lest　in　displeasure　she　fly　as　soon　as　there's　mention　of　marriage。　But　be　it　straightway　decided；　for　she　no　longer　in　error　Thus　shall　be　left；　and　I　this　suspense　no　longer　can　suffer。　Hasten　and　show　us　in　this　a　proof　of　the　wisdom　we　honor。〃

Towards　the　company　then　the　clergyman　instantly　turned　him；　But　already；　alas！　had　the　soul　of　the　maiden　been　troubled；　Hearing　the　father's　speech；　for　he；　in　his　sociable　fashion；　Had　in　these　playful　words；　with　the　kindest　intention　addressed　her：　〃Ay；　this　is　well；　my　child！　with　delight　I　perceive　that　my　Hermann　Has　the　good　taste　of　his　father；　who　often　showed　his　in　his　young　days；　Leading　out　always　the　fairest　to　dance；　and　bringing　the　fairest　Finally　home　as　his　wife；　our　dear　little　mother　here　that　was。　For　by　the　bride　that　a　man　shall　elect　we　can　judge　what　himself　is；　Tell　what　the　spirit　is　in　him；　and　whether　he　feel　his　own　value。　Nor　didst　thou　need　for　thyself；　I'll　engage；　much　time　for　decision；　For；　in　good　sooth；　methinks；　he's　no　difficult　person　to　follow。〃

Hermann　had　heard　but　in　part；　his　limbs　were　inwardly　trembling；　And　of　a　sudden　a　stillness　had　fallen　on　all　of　the　circle。

But　by　these　words　of　derision；　for　such　she　could　not　but　deem　them；　Wounded；　and　stung　to　the　depths　of　her　soul；　the　excellent　maiden；　Stood；　while　the　fugitive　blood　o'er　her　cheeks　and　e'en　to　her　bosom；　Poured　its　flush。　But　she　governed　herself；　and　her　courage　collecting；　Answered　the　old　man　thus；　her　pain　not　wholly　concealing：　〃Truly　for　such　a　reception　thy　son　had　in　no　wise　prepared　me；　When　he　the　ways　of　his　father　described；　the　excellent　burgher。　Thou　art　a　man　of　culture；　I　know；　before　whom　I　am　standing；　Dealest　with　every　one　wisely；　according　as　suits　his　position；　But　thou　hast　scanty　compassion；　it　seems；　on　one　such　as　I　am；　Who；　a　poor　girl；　am　now　crossing　thy　threshold　with　purpose　to　serve　thee；　Else；　with　such　bitter　derision；　thou　wouldst　not　have　made　me　remember　How　far　removed　my　fortune　from　that　of　thyself　and　thy　son　is。　True；　I　come　poor　to　thy　house；　and　bring　with　me　naught　but　my　bundle　Here　where　is　every　abundance　to　gladden　the　prosperous　inmates。　Yet　I　know　well　myself；　I　feel　the　relations　between　us；　Say；　is　it　noble；　with　so　much　of　mockery　straightway　to　greet　me；　That　I　am　sent　from　the　house　while　my　foot　is　scarce　yet　on　the　threshold？〃

Anxiously　Hermann　turned　and　signed　to　his　ally　the　pastor　That　he　should　rush　to　the　rescue　and　straightway　dispel　the　delusion。　Then　stepped　the　wise　man　hastily　forward　and　looked　on　the　maiden's　Tearful　eyes；　her　silent　pain　and　repressed　indignation；　And　in　his　heart　was　impelled　not　at　once　to　clear　up　the　confusion；　Rather　to　put　to　the　test　the　girl's　disquieted　spirit。　Therefore　he　unto　her　said　in　language　intended　to　try　her：　〃Surely；　thou　foreign…born　maiden；　thou　didst　not　maturely　consider；　When　thou　too　rashly　decidedst　to　enter　the　service　of　strangers；　All　that　is　meant　by　the　placing　thyself　'neath　the　rule　of　a　master；　For　by　our　hand　to　a　bargain　the　fate　of　the　year　is　determined；　And　but　a　single　'yea'　compels　to　much　patient　endurance。　Not　the　worst　part　of　the　service　the　wearisome　steps　to　be　taken；　Neither　the　bitter　sweat　of　a　labor　that　presses　unceasing；　Since　the　industrious　freeman　must　toil　as　well　as　the　servant。　But　'tis　to　bear　with　the　master's　caprice　when　he　censures　unjustly；　Or　when；　at　variance　with　self；　he　orders　now　this；　now　the　other；　Bear　with　the　petulance；　too；　of　the　mistress；　easily　angered；　And　with　the　rude；　overbearing　ways　of　unmannerly　children。　All　this　is　hard　to　endure；　and　yet　to　go　on　with　thy　duties　Quickly；　without　delay；　nor　thyself　grow　sullen　and　stubborn。　Yet　thou　appearest　ill　fitted　for　this；　since　already　so　deeply　Stung　by　the　father's　jests：　whereas　there　is　nothing　more　common　Than　for　a　girl　to　be　teased　on　account　of　a　youth　she　may　fancy。〃

Thus　he　spoke。　The　maiden　had　felt　the　full　force　of　his　language；　And　she　restrained　her　no　more；　but　with　passionate　outburst　her　feelings　Made　themselves　way；　a　sob　broke　forth　from　her　now　heaving　bosom；　And；　while　the　scalding　tears　poured　down；　she　straightway　made　answer：　〃Ah；　that　rational　man　who　thinks　to　advise　us　in　sorrow；　Knows　not　how　little　of　power　his　cold　words　have　in　relieving　Ever　a　heart　from　that　woe　which　a　sovereign　fate　has　inflicted。　Ye　are　prosperous　and　glad；　how　then　should　a　pleasantry　wound　you？　Yet　but　the　lightest　touch　is　a　source　of　pain　to　the　sick　man。　Nay；　concealment　itself；　if　successful；　had　profited　nothing。　Better　show　now　what　had　later　increased　to　a　bitterer　anguish；　And　to　an　inward　consuming　despair　might　perhaps　have　reduced　me。　Let　me　go　back！　for　here　in　this　house　I　can　tarry　no　longer。　I　will　away；　and　wander　in　search　of　my　hapless　companions；　Whom　I　forsook　in　their　need；　for　myself　alone　choosing　the　better。　This　is　my　firm　resolve；　and　I　therefore　may　make　a　confession　Which　might　for　years　perhaps　have　else　lain　hid　in　my　bosom。　Deeply　inde